Developer: Andre Gareis
Platforms: PC (Reviewed), PlayStation 5, Switch
Gene(s): Adventure
Publisher: Dear Villagers
Mindcop is a nonlinear detective game. This game was developed by Andre Gareis and published by Dear Villagers. This review was done on the PC, but the game is available for the Switch and PS5.
Mindcop is a single-player game where you play as the Mindcop, who has been sent with his partner Linda to solve a murder case at Merrylin Crater Camp. This tourist destination is currently not buzzing due to the off-peak season, and therefore, only a select number of staff can be suspected of killing Rebecca. With your supernatural mind-reading abilities and deduction powers, you are not far from catching the criminal, but it’s not as easy as you may expect. Mindcop is not a game intended for everyone as it deals with quite dark topics which may not be ideal for everyone.
The controls to Mindcop are extremely easy to get a hang of. The game begins with a short tutorial that places you in an investigation of a crime scene, where you get to learn how to talk to suspects and investigate objects. The controls and mechanics are fairly simple except for the play on time. In Mindcop, every action/interaction you make is you trying to beat the clock before the five days of investigation are up. The game wants players to make wise decisions on whom to approach when investigating rather than dilly-dallying around asking everyone questions. The smallest interaction can cost you loads of investigation time.
The art style for Mindcop is minimalistic yet effective for a point-and-click detective game. It features 2D graphic novel aesthetics with cartoon-like elements. The hand-drawn visuals that make each character look like something out of Poptropica exaggerate the darker-themed topic. I love that the colour palette is dully blended with greys, blacks, whites and subtle red tones. The only part of the game that features colour is when mind-surfing, which seems to contrast the mechanic from simple investigation. The minimalist design helps to lighten the serious tone while maintaining immersion. The style draws comparisons to reading a book or navigating a comic strip, enhanced by vibrant yet minimalist environments and expressive character designs. Mindcop perfectly matches a noir vibe with its jazzy and eerie musical elements that complement both the narrative and visuals. The sound effects in the game have a retro vibe, such as typewriter clicks, which really immerses the players into a detective feel.
The gameplay for Mindcop is unique and creative. Unlike other detective games where you click on items, read up on them and deduce your findings, in Mindcop, you get to go beyond that. Mind surfing was such an interesting mechanic in this game, which allowed you to play a mini-puzzle that needed you to align bullets in a row while rotating the brain. At first, this felt relatively easy, but after a few runs, it started to get more difficult, yet the outcome is much needed in the investigation. Once the mind surf has been completed successfully, you get to choose between doors that read truth, lie, and uncertainty, which will hold some sort of evidence. The doors can either help narrow down an innocent or confuse you even more as to whodunit.
Mindcop is great in the sense that you have the ability to explore the town thoroughly and interact with whomever you like, except it will influence the evidence you find first, which may or may not lead you to the killer. Character interaction is highly important in this game, and the dialogues that portray the story, I felt, were very well done as they kept players interested in wanting to uncover the truth. I think what made the game even more impressive was the countdown and how you had to use the time accordingly. At the end of each day, players have the option to arrest a suspect, though this will shun you from people who are close to the one arrested. I quite liked this as it meant you needed to put actual thinking and reasoning into your suspects, as it could hinder the investigation. All bits of the investigation need to be done within five days, and if the correct choice is not made, then you start from day one. I quite liked the day limit, and replaying the game meant that I was able to approach other people and uncover more knowledge that would lead me to the truth. I enjoyed Mindcop as it was a detective game that really puts you into the shoes of an actual investigator. Evidence is not handed down to you, but rather, you have to do the digging.
Mindcop is an incredibly refreshing detective game which refuses to hold your hand in the best possible way. It can be overwhelming, but actually managing to engage your brain to uncover nuggets of truth feels amazing and makes all the effort worth it. Few games are as clever, funny, and tragic as Mindcop, and the fact that it was made by a solo developer is frankly baffling.
Mindcop is an interesting detective game that wants you to uncover the truth behind Rebecca’s murder. Whilst you are on the clock, you need to interact and talk with people in the rural town in order to find the murderer. The game features minimalist noir-style visuals with a compelling story that will keep you on your toes. Nothing comes as easily as you may assume, so it’s a must that you put on your detective hat if you wish to play Mindcop!
Overall: 8.5/10
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